Hand grenade



Dec. 19, .1944. Q CARDINIl ETAL 2,365,246

HAND GRENADE Filed Feb. 24, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Mmm/M Dec19, 1944. G. CARDINI ErAL HAND GRENADE Filed Feb. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS Patented Dec. 19, '1944 JGeorgeCardin, `New York,.N. Y., andWaa-renl. .Davis Nashua, N. H.; .said :Davis .assigner to YCharles L. Fish, .BepperelL `Mass., trustee, and -said Cardini assigner .of sixty-six and .twothirds percent of his share .to Anthony.A.CaZlandra,.Newark. N.y J., trustee Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,196

9 Claims. (01.102564) This :invention is directed to improvements in 1a Tha-nd grenade of `the contact explosion type. The improved hand grenade comprises, generally:a casing, two explosivecontainers and deto- .nating devices carried thereby, said containers .being brought into cooperation to explode the 1detonators rand `thereby the grenade -by the im- ;pact .of any `part of the hand grenade with an aobject.

The hand grenade-comprises, more specifically, :a casing and two explosive ,containers which are movable endwise and/or tiltable in the casing, said containers .having firing tubes bearing `peroussion cap-s and firing pins, which firing pins aleimoved endwise to explode thecaps and there- .bythegrenade by .an endwise and /or tilting movementi-of the containers dueto the impact ofeny part of thegrenade with anobject.

A double lock may be provided for the hand grenade to permit the grenade to be safely handled. This double lock in the present instance is shown as comprisinga flight removable lock for loosely holding the containers againstvexplosion and `a manually removable lock for .the flight removable lock.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a topplan view of the hand grenade with the parts in their assembled and locked positions.

Fig. 2 represents a side :elevation of `the same.

Fig. 3 represents a bottom `plan view of `the same.

Fig. 4 represents a cross section taken in the .plane `of the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. l5 represents a longitudinal central sec tion taken in the plane of the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a cross section of the grenade showing the two locks removed therefrom.

Fig. 7 represents the positions which the parts assume when the side of the grenade strikes an object to explode the grenade.

Fig. 8 represents the positions of the parts .when an end of the grenade strikes an object to `explode the grenade.

The hand grenade casing may be constructed of .suitable material, as sheet metal, and it is .shown as comprisinga cylindrical portion I and removable `tapered end portions 2.

The two explosive containers 3 may be of suitable material, as cast iron or steel, scored along their inner and outer surfaces as `shown at 4 to .increase their fragmentation when exploded. Each of these containers has a filling hole for .the explosive 5, whichhole is closed by a plug 6.

`tainers irrespective of lthe position `which the l'grenade assumes whenfit strikes an object, will nowfbedescribed.

FFiring ftubes 'I may Lbe provided with .heads 8 which 'have 4screw-threaded engagements with their respective central openings through the bases `of the .explosive .containers 3. 'Ihe outer .ends of these iring tubes I open into the space betweenthe bases of thecontainersand the inner ends .of these 'firing .tubes are `open to the Vexplosive 5 'within '.the containers. These ring tubes are shown` as shaving interior annular shoul- Iders ".9 forseating the percussion caps J0.

Firing pins III `for detonating 'the .percussion .Caps .-ID are freely slidable in the iiring tubes 'I. .These ring pins II .are shownas provided with heads lf2 looatedopposite each other in the space between fthe explosive `containers 3.

, l.The 'double .lock dor .the hand grenade may `comprise the `following devices: The iiight removable ylock which normally holds both of .the :containers against explosive ymovement in .the .casing is shown as comprising '.two curved wings FI3 hinged V:to forked bars I4, .I5 which embrace the :tiring fpins zI-I between the heads I2 and the bases of .the containers 3. The cylindrical portion I of the casing has 4a .side wall opening I6 .through which the flight removable forked bars I4, I5 extend. The wingsI3 may be provided along `their curved edges with narrow anges I1 which overlap exterior .annular .shoulders I8 on ,theend portions .of the casing, to hold the wings `against' Vlongitudinal displacement when locked to the casing.

These wings I3, `when folded, snugly embrace 'the cylindrical portion I of the casing and their free ends are held together bya manually removablelock `which is shown as a double pronged pin IB "having a tab 20. The prongs of the pin are normally spreadapart and must be forced toward each .other to pass through the holes 2| in the 'free ends of the wings I3 .and also ,through holes 22 in the casing on Opposite sides .of the opening I6 therein.

lThe endwise movement of the explosive containers is provided 'for by spacing the containers a short distance apartl so that when the grenade Vstrikes an object endwise, the one or the other of the containers will move endwise to cause the firing pins to explode the caps and thereby the" containers.

The 'tilting movement of the explosive containers 3 is Vprovided for by interior annular shoulders 23 on the `end portions 2 of the casing,

The detonating means for exploding .the con- 55, which shoulders engage and coact with exterior movement of the containers.

The containers may be suppins II are inserted into the tubes The'co'n-UI f tainers are placed within their4 respective end' portions of the casing with the exposed heads I2 of the ring pins locatedopposite each other in the space between the containers. The casing members I and 2 may then be secured together. l

The forked bars I4, I5 of the flight removable lock may then be passed through the side Wall f opening I6 in the casing to embrace their respective firing pins between the heads I2 and the bases oi the containers to prevent explosive The wings I3 may then be folded around the cylindrical portion I oi the casing.

With the parts thus assembled, the manually removable lock for the flight lremovable lock is then attached by forcing the two prongs of the pin I9 toward each other and passing them through the holes 2| in the wings and the holes 22 in the side wall of the casing.

With the parts thus assembled and lockedl the grenade may be handled with complete safety.

When it is desired to use the grenade lthe pin I9 of the manually removable lock may be withdrawn by means of the tab 20. The grenade may then be thrown at the desired object. As the grenade passes through the air the action of the air on the wings of the flight removable lock will cause the wings to spread and remove the forked bars from the grenade.- This action will release the containers and firing pins so that when the grenade strikes its object the containers are caused to move endwise and/or tilt toward each other according to what part of the grenade strikes its object, to cause the ring pins to simultaneously detonate the percussion caps and thereby explode the containers.

It will thus be seen that the explosion of the f grenade is ensuredirrespective of the position of the grenade when it strikes its object. It will also be seen that the hand grenade when not in use is safe to handle and transport; The

'grenade is simple in construction, reliable in action, inexpensive to manufacture, land can be readily removable.

It is evident that 'various changes may be resorted to in the constructionfform and ar- "rangement of the several parts without departving from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a hand grenade, acasing comprising a cylindrical portion and tworemovable vtapered end portions, two separated tapered explosive containers, detonatorstherefor comprising tubes secured to the bases of the containers in line with each other, saidv tubes extending vinto the containers and openV to the interiors thereof, the outer ends of the tubes being open to the space movable lock comprising bars located between the said heads of the pins and the bases of the containers and wings hinged to said bars,

vthe bars serving to hold the heads of the pins in contact with each other and the containers against explosive movement in the casing, and a manually removable lock for said flight removable lock.

2. In a hand grenade, a casing, two endwise Vvmovable and tiltable separated explosive containers enclosed thereby, detonators for the containers, each vdetonator including a percussion cap and a slidable iring pin therefor projecting into the space between the containers in position to coact with the other firing pin by the end or side impact of the grenade with an object, to explode the containers, coacting means be- -tween the containers andthe casing for causing thecontainers to tilt toward each other by the side'impact of the grenade, and aV flight re-V movable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting `movement within the casobject, to explode the containers,l coacting means betweenthe containers and the casing for causing the containers to tilt toward each other by rthe side'iimpact of the grenade, a flight removable lock for holding ythe containers against endwise and tilting movement within the casing, and a manually releasable lock for the iiight removable lock.

VLl. In a hand grenade, a casing,'two endwise movable and tiltable separated explosive containers Venclosed thereby, detonators for the containlers, each detonator including a percussion cap and a slidable iiring pin therefor projecting into the space between said containers in kposition-to coact with the other firing pin lby end or side impact of the grenade with an object, to explode the containers, interior and exterior shoulders on the casing and containers respectively to cause .the vcontainers to tilt toward each otherjby the side-impact of the grenade, and a iiighty removable lock for holding the containers against end- Awise and tilting movement Within the casing.

5. In a hand grenade, a casing, two endwise movable and tiltable separated explosive containers enclosed thereby, detonators forthe containers, each`detonator including a percussion cap and a slidable ring pin therefor projecting into the Vspace betweenA said containers in posibetween the containers, percussion capsfseated Y in said tubes at a distance `from their;A open outer ends, and firing pins slidable inthe tubes, said iiring pins having heads opposite each other insaid space between'the containers,'a ight retion to vcoactwith the other ring pin by end or side impact of the y'grenade with an object, to explode the containers, interior and exterior Yshoulders on the casing and containersrrespectively, to cause the containers to tilt 'toward each other by the side impact of the grenade,ta flight removable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting movement Within thecasing,

and a manually releasable lock for the flight removable lock.

6.v In a hand grenadefa casing, two endwise `movable and tiltable separated explosive conytainers enclosed therebydetonators carried by `the containers, each detonator including a tube open tothe interior of its containerand to the space between the containers, av percussion cap seated in the tube and a firing pin slidable in the tube and projecting into the space between said containers in position to coact with the other ring pin by the end or side impact of the grenade with'an object, coacting means between the casing and containers to cause the containers to tilt toward each other by the side impact of the grenade, and a flight removable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting movement within the casing.

7. In a hand grenade, a casing, two endwise movable and tiltableseparated explosive containers enclosed thereby, detonators carried by the containers, each detonator including a tube open to the interior of its container and to the space between the containers, a percussion cap seated in the tube and a ring pin slidable in the tube and projecting into the space between said containers in position to coact with the other ring pin by the end or side impact of the grenade with an object, coacting means between the casing and containers to cause the containers to tilt toward each other by the side impact of the grenade, a flight removable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting movement Within the casing, and a manually releasable lock for the flight removable lock.

8. In a hand grenade, a casing having two endwise movable and tiltable separated explosive containers enclosed thereby, detonators for the containers, each detonator including a tube open to the interior of its container and to the space between the containers, a percussion cap seated in the tube and a firing pin slidable in the tube and projecting into the space between said containers in position to coact with the other ring pin by the end and side impact of the grenade with an object, interior and exterior shoulders on the casing and containers respectively, to cause the containers to tilt toward each other by the side impact of the grenade, and a flight removable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting movement within the casing.

9. In a hand grenade, a casing having two endwise movable and tiltable separated explosive containers enclosed thereby, detonators for the containers, each detonator including a tube open to the interior of its container and to the space between the containers, a percussion cap seated in the tube and a firing pin slidable in the tube and projecting into the space between said containers in position to coact with the other firing pin by the end and side impact of the grenade with an object, interior and exterior shoulders on the casing and channels respectively, to cause the channels to tilt toward each other by the side impact of the grenade, a ilight removable lock for holding the containers against endwise and tilting movement within the casing, and a manually releasable lock for the flight removable lock.

GEORGE CARDINI. WARREN H. DAVIS. 

